There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the Charlotte Hornets about whether they will make a splash move with their draft picks. But with two first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, president/GM Jeff Peterson may be eager to package them to move up for a higher-upside talent.
Depending on each team’s draft board, the talent tiers are set up differently. Trading up could be the best path forward in landing a high-impact player, and Charlotte is well-positioned to make a compelling offer.
Here are three teams the Hornets could realistically trade up with in the 2026 NBA Draft.
3 Teams the Hornets Could Trade Up With In the 2026 NBA Draft
Sacramento Kings – No. 7 Pick
Charlotte and Sacramento have been linked frequently in the last week. According to Hoops HQ, Charlotte and Sacramento have been discussing a deal that would send the No. 14 pick and No. 18 pick for the No. 7 pick.
What makes the Kings such a compelling trade‑up partner is how uniquely positioned they are compared to the rest of the lottery. Sacramento is staring into the abyss with expensive veteran contracts weighing down its flexibility, a need to get younger, and a draft class where the talent gap between No. 7 and No. 14 may not be massive on the Kings’ board.
After trading away De’Aaron Fox, they will be looking for their next franchise point guard. If their board has multiple guards graded in the same tier, trading down becomes a value play, turning one lottery ticket into two. That’s where Charlotte enters the picture.
🎙️ @ZachLowe_NBA: "The Sabonis/Charlotte thing, it's definitely true that there were talks and it's definitely true that Charlotte was like, 'No, thank you. If you want picks, you're not getting picks.'" pic.twitter.com/MK07RIZnBI
— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) June 15, 2026
A framework involving Domantas Sabonis could give both sides exactly what they need. Sacramento would shed $46.5 million in salary while adding multiple first‑round picks to rebuild around a younger core. Charlotte, meanwhile, would land the No. 7 pick and a proven All‑Star big who instantly raises their floor and stabilizes the frontcourt.
The question then becomes who would be the target at No. 7?
Dallas Mavericks – No. 9 Pick
ESPN’s Bobby Marks has Dallas potentially preferring quantity over quality, where they would receive the No. 14 and No. 18 picks in exchange for the No. 9 pick. Marks gives his reasoning:
“For Dallas, the move would create much-needed optionality, with three first-rounders in June’s draft (Nos. 14, 18, 30.) With no control of their own firsts until 2031, the Mavericks can move off No. 18 for a future pick or continue surrounding Flagg with young talent. However, keeping all three firsts would leave Dallas with just one open roster spot heading into free agency.”
The Mavericks are also looking to get younger and build around Cooper Flagg. Trading out of the top 10 to start stockpiling picks may be the best option for them. Just like with the Kings, the value option is to grab two prospects instead of one and hope they develop.
If the Hornets really like a particular guard in this class, they could push their chips in to acquire one in this range. Peterson hasn’t shied away from his interest in the guards. There’s also the general idea that they are targeting Aday Mara or Yaxel Lendeborg with a trade up.
Milwaukee Bucks – No. 10 Pick
It’s hard to imagine that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a Milwaukee Buck at the end of this offseason. Once the trade inevitably happens, Milwaukee will most likely shift to a rebuild. With the 2026 NBA Draft being loaded with talent, the Bucks would take the same approach and go for quantity over quality.
If the Hornets see a prospect falling that they have to have, they may pull the trigger with the Bucks at this selection. Packaging two first-round picks to move up four spots is a steep price to pay, but the payoff could be massive if they get their guy.
Until draft night, one of the biggest questions surrounding the Hornets is simple: will they make a seismic move on the clock, or stay the course and follow the status quo?
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